Slidable jaw wrench provided with cam actuated locking means



March 13, 1951 A G HANSON 2,545,355

SLIDABLE aAw WRENCH PROVIDED WITH CAM ACTUATED LOCKING MEANS Filed April 29, 194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C; 7/0/"7 JO?) flfTORNE-Y March 13, 1951 A G HANSON 2,545,355

SLIDABLE JAW WRENCH PROVIDED WITH CAM ACTUATED LOCKING MEANS Filed April 29, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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,7 rroR vgy Patented Mar. 13,1951

SLIDABLE JAW WRENCH PROVIDED WITH CAM ACTUATED LOCKING MEANS Abraham Garfield Hanson, Pasadena, Calif.

Application April 29, 1947, Serial No. 744,742

Claims. (01. 8187) My invention relates to relatively movable jaw wrenches in which the adjustment may be made speedily, preferably by an interrupted screw element in combination with an associated rack.

It is an object of my invention to provide an adjustable mechanism that may be used as a locking or gripping wrench that may be used also as a locking clamp.

It is an object of my invention to provide a wrench having freely and relatively movable jaws that may readily be moved to embracing position of the work in combination with additional means thereon to produce a gripping or clamping effect on the work. 7

It is a further object of my invention to provide a wrench having a quick initial adjustment means to embrace the work, in combination with a final or gripping adjustment as well as to relieve the initial adjustment means from strain,

thereby saving the wrench from destruction or partial destruction. I

It is another object of my invention to provide a wrench having an initial rapid adjustment means for its jaws cooperating with a second or final adjustment means including a gripping or clamping function to accurately and firmly hold the work.

A still further object is to provide a wrench of the above mentioned character that can be readily and easily adjusted, locked and released and due to its simplicity will be inexpensive, yet strong and durable, and at all times positive and eficient in its operation.

Other objects and advantages will be revealed in the detailed description of theillustrated'embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved wrench.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one jaw including the adjusting mechanism thereof.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of one jaw including its adjusting mechanism,and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line l-'l of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The drawings are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of my invention and not definitive thereof, except as specified in the claimed subject matter.

The reference characters identify the details of the drawings, as specified in this written description.

2 In the drawings, the jaw l is provided with a shank 2 having a handle portion 3. 'The J'aw, shank and handle are preferably integral with each other. The shank 2 is provided with a rack 4 comprising a series of teeth integral therewith.

The shank is also provided with a pressure portion :5 opposed to a gripping member -9 and is adapted for holding gripping and frictional contact with said member.

The jaw 6 for convenience will be designated as the movable jaw and is provided with a sleeve 1 connected integrally therewith and terminating in a bifurcated portion 8 to receive a gripping member 9 operatively and an eccentric l0 fixed on an operating lever H. The eccentric l0 and lever I l are fulcrumed in the bifurcated portion 8 by means of a cross pin or rivet l2 having heads l3 on the ends thereof and engaging the furcations of the portion 8. I

The member 9 is provided with an opening 9' to receive the eccentric I0 and engages one side terminal of lever H. The member 9 is pivotally connected by a cross pin M to a bolt I5 and is provided with a pressure face I6 adapted to engage forcibly with the portion 5 of the shank 2. The bolt I5 is mounted or anchored for limited longitudinal movement in the jaw 6 and the base I! of the bifurcated portion 8 and is thereby maintained in captive position therein.

A mutilated screw 18 is slidably and rotatively mounted on the bolt I5 and the threads of the screw are adapted to engage successively some of the teeth of the rack 4'. When the mutilated portion I9 is opposite to the rack 4, the screw threads are disengaged from the rack 4 and the jaw 6 and its associated mechanism may be moved freely to and fro on the shank 2 and the rack 4 thereof.

A helical compression spring 20 surrounds the bolt l5 and is interposedbetween the base I1 and the screw Hi to urge the screw towardthe jaw 6. The bolt I5 is also provided with a transverse pin 2! adapted to engage notches 22 in jaw 5 and also the screw [8.

The surface portion 5 and the opposed surface portion 19 are smooth as shown and constitute a friction grip. locking'means to relieve the screw [8 and rack 4 of undue strain when a tight nut is being turned. Although the portions 5 and it are shown as smooth, it is self-evident that the portions 5 and !9 could be prdvided with interfitting teeth toprovide a positive holding or locking means in lieu of a friction grip holding or locking means.

The jaws l and 6 may be providedwith arcuate recesses 23 and 24 and the recesses are preferably provided with teeth as shown. These arcuate recesses are used for gripping bolts, rods, pipes, etc.

Operation When it is desired to tighten or loosen a nut or the like, the lever l I is swung to open position as shown in Figure 5, which releases the grippin action and the screw l8. The eccentric Ill, being fixed on the lever II, carries the member 9 and its portion [6 to a spaced relation from the portion 5. The mutilated portion of the screw is may now be rotated to a position opposite the rack A and then the jaw 6 and its attached mechanism may be moved along the shank 2 so that a nut or the like may be loosely embraced by the jaws l and 6 and now the screw may be rotated to more closely embrace the nut etc. and finally the handle II is moved toward the shank handle 3.

This operation carries the jaw forwardly through the medium of the bolt I 5, member 9 and cross pins 14 and 2!, whereby the nut etc., is gripped tightly or firmly and the frictional gripping contact of member 9 and portion relieves the screw 93 and the cooperating portion of rack 4 of undue strain, since the gripping action of portions 5 and I6 maintains the jaw $5 immovably on the shank 2. In order to release the nut, it is merely necessary to swing the lever il away from shank handle 3.

It will now be readily understood that I have provided a wrench with a quick or speedy action adjustment as well as a firm gripping or looking action for a nut, etc., and a simultaneous relief means for strain on the screw l8 and the cooperating rack portion 4.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a wrench that can be readily and easily adjusted, locked and released and the same will at all times be positive and efiicient in its operation.

-While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement .of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws arranged in opposed relation, one of said jaws being provided with a shank, said shank comprising a rack, a handle and a pressure receiving portion, said pressure receiving portion being located between said rack and said handle and being substantially in alignment with said rack, said other jaw comprising a sleeve, and a bifurcated portion integral therewith, a bolt, a screw, a spring, a, pressure member, a cam, and a lever, said sleeve having a recess therein, said bolt, screw and spring being located in said recess and being maintained captive therein, said screw being slidably and rotatively mounted on said bolt and engaging said rack and said other jaw, said spring surrounding said bolt and urging said screw toward its jaw, said bolt being mounted in its jaw for limited longitudinal movement, said sleeve surrounding said shank and said bifurcated portion embracing said shank, said member, cam and lever being pivotally mounted in said bifurcated portion, said cam being fixed on said lever and engaging said member, said member being articulately connected to one end of said bolt between the furcations of said bifurcated portion, said member being located and arranged in opposed relation to the pressure receiving portion of said shank and thereby being forced into engagement with the pressure receiving portion whereby movement of said lever and its cam will firmly grip the work between the jaws and also relieve said screw and rack of undue strain.

2. A wrench comprising a pair of jaws movably arranged in opposed relation to each other, one of said jaws comprising a shank, a pressure receiving portion, a rack and a handle, said other jaw comprising a combined sleeve and bifurcated portion, a bolt, a screw, a spring, a pressure member and a combined cam and lever, said sleeve surrounding said shank and embracing the same and said bifurcated portion embracing said shank, said sleeve having a recessed portion, said recessed portion being provided with means whereby said bolt, said screw and said spring are mounted captive therein, said screw being slidably and rotatively mounted on said bolt and engaging said rack, said spring surrounding said bolt and engaging said screw at one of its ends and engaging the bight of the bifurcated portion at its other end and urging said screw towards its jaw, said bolt being mounted for limited longitudinal movement in its jaw, said pressure member being articulately connected to said bolt, and being provided with a cylindrical opening receiving said cam, said lever and said member being pivotally mounted within said bifurcated portion whereby actuation of said lever will forcibly engage the pressure receiving portion and grip the work and relieve said rack and screw of undue strain.

3. A wrench comprising a pair of structurally associated adjustable jaws, one of said jaws comprising a shank, a rack, a pressure receiving portion and a handle, said rack and said pressure receiving portion being in substantial alignment with each other along one edge of said shank, said other jaw comprising a combined sleeve and bifurcated portion, a bolt, a screw, a spring, a pressure member, a combined eccentric and lever, said sleeve surrounding and slidably embracing said shank and said bifurcated portion slidably embracing said shank, said sleeve having a recessed portion in one of its edges, means in said recessed portion for receiving and mounting said bolt, said screw and said spring captive therein, said screw being slid-ably and rotatively mounted on said bolt, said spring surrounding said bolt and structurally mounted to urge said screw towards its jaw, said bolt being mounted in its jaw for limited sliding movement therein, said eccentric being fixed on said lever and projecting laterally therefrom, said pressure member having an aperture receiving said eccentric, said member and eccentric being mounted on a common pivot within the bifurcated portion, said member being articulately connected to one end of said bolt within the bifurcated portion whereby the work may be gripped and the pressure member may be into locking engagement with the pressure portion on the shank, and whereby said jaws may be locked in adjusted gripping position and the screw and rack relieved from strain.

4. An adjustable self-locking wrench comprising a'pair of relatively movable jaws, said jaws including means and mechanism whereby said jaws may be adjusted and locked in adjusted position relative to the work, one jaw comprising a shank, a rack, a pressure lock portion contiguous with said rack in substantial alignment therewith and a handle, constituting the 5 means aforesaid, said other jaw comprising a combined sleeve and bifurcated portion including an adjusting screw, a pressure lock member, and camming means to actuate said member',constituting said mechanism aforesaid, said combined sleeve and bifurcated portion embracing said shank, said screw engaging said rack and said pressure lock member being movably guided into locking engagement with said pressure lock portion by said camming means aforesaid, whereby said screw and rack are relieved ofundue strain when operating on the work.

5. An adjustable self-locking wrench comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, one of said jaws comprising a shank, a rack, a locking portion and a handle, the other jaw comprising a combined sleeve and bifurcated portion, a bolt,

an adjusting screw, a spring, a movable locking member, and a camming means fixed on an actuating lever, said sleeve having a recess therein, said recessed portion of said sleeve having means therein to support said bolt, said screw and spring captive therein, said screw being rotatively and slidably mounted on said bolt, said screw engaging said rack, said spring surround- 2 ing said bolt and engaging said screw and the bight of the bifurcated portion to urge said screw toward its jaw, said bight portion having an aperture therein receiving one end of said bolt, the member and lever being pivotally mounted side by side within said bifurcated portion, said member being articulately connected to the end of-the bolt within the bifurcated portion, said bolt being mounted in its jaw for limited sliding movement therein, said member having a circularopening receiving said camming means, whereby said member may be actuated into locking engagement with said first named locking portion thereby relieving said screw and rack from undue strain.

ABRAHAM GARFIELD HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 521,582 Burgevin June 19, 1894 599,379 Billings Feb. 22, 1898 900,460 Woodward Oct. 6, 1908 1,175,950 Ginsburg Mar. 21, 1916 

